"The problem of the burqa is not a religious problem; it is a problem of the dignity of women. It is a symbol of subservience, of submission," Sarkozy said.

France, home to an estimated five million Muslims, passed a law in 2004 banning headscarves or other conspicuous religious symbols in public schools.

The French president made his comments during a major policy speech on a wide range of issues before the joint session of the National Assembly in the Palace of Versailles.

It was the first time a French head of state addressed lawmakers in 150 years. The last leader to do so was Charles-Louis Napoleon in 1848.

Sarkozy's appearance was made possible by an amendment to the French constitution in 2008, which had banned sitting presidents from addressing lawmakers.

Sarkozy's comments on the burqa come on the heels of a resolution, introduced in the National Assembly last week and supported now by 80 legislators, calling for the creation of a parliamentary committee to examine the wearing of burqas on French territory.

There are no official figures, but several thousand women are believed to wear the garment in France.

Economic kick-start vow

If the president sounded like a left-wing social reformer in the first part of his address, with his defense of women's rights, his call for equality and a vow to improve prison conditions, he later turned to two of his favorite subjects: the reduction of public spending and the reform of the country's bureaucracy.

However, Sarkozy ruled out tough austerity measures in the wake of the global financial crisis and pledged instead to take out a new government loan to help France out of its economic doldrums. He also promised not to raise taxes, which he argued would only delay the country's recovery.

Sarkozy said the current crisis highlighted the virtues of France's traditional policies of strong public investment and generous social spending.

He said the government would launch a three-month consultation period on July 1 with lawmakers, labor leaders, business executives and the cultural establishment to flesh out key areas for investment. He said decisions would only be made after that debate.

Sarkozy also said that the question of pension reform would be tackled in 2010, including a possible increase in the retirement age. He also pledged to continue reducing the number of civil servants by replacing only one of two retiring public sector workers.

France is under pressure to rein in its public deficit, which is set to top seven percent of gross domestic product this year and next, more than twice the limit allowed by the European Union.

gb/AFP/AP/Reuters

Editor: Nick Amies